[Ding—]
[+86 133 45698]
[Just moved nearby, feeling lonely at midnight and looking for excitement, can come to you]
[Hey handsome, I'm so itchy down there~]
The suggestive text message appeared on the screen.
The flirtatious tone invited imagination.
Like those small cards slipped under hotel room doors when men are on business trips, it was the kind of thing that would make most men's minds wander.
Looking at this seductive message that would make countless innocent young men blush, Ji Mu couldn't help but be drawn in.
His fingers tapped the screen.
Instinctively opening the message to reply—
[There shouldn't be a pause mark between "down" and "there", as pause marks are used to separate parallel items, and these two words don't have a parallel relationship.]
The message showed as sent after a few seconds.
He snapped his fingers in satisfaction.
That's much better.
How could one allow grammatical imprecision?
Of course, he didn't forget to follow up with a report and block combo.
Now that's what you call attention to detail.
"And here I thought some golden finger or system was awakening, what a disappointment."
If anyone else got tricked, go download the National Anti-Fraud APP Center!
Muttering to himself, Ji Mu put his phone back in his pocket and continued thinking about transferring schools.
"Wonder what other schools are like."
As he mumbled to himself, he looked up at the distant azure sky.
Although March was getting warmer, the wind still carried a hint of coolness.
Adjusting his jacket collar - he was dressed rather thinly today - staying out in the cold wind much longer would probably lead to a cold.
Just as he pulled up his hood and prepared to leave, that electronic sound rang out again.
[Ding—]
Again?
Must be another spam message, he wouldn't fall for it twice.
Ji Mu couldn't care less, heading straight for the rooftop door without hesitation.
[Host trigger point detected, system activating.]
The sudden mechanical voice reached his ears.
His footsteps gradually slowed.
Unlike before, this voice seemed to be resonating in his mind.
He pondered, "Could it be..."
Just as this thought arose, a sudden wave of dizziness hit him.
It felt like losing control of both vision and balance. He leaned against the wall, fighting back nausea and discomfort.
Only after a strange "buzzing" sound echoed in his mind did this spinning sensation gradually fade.
When his vision returned, he saw a palm-sized humanoid creature floating before him.
Its pointed ears resembled those of a miniature elf.
[Hello hello.]
Noticing his gaze, the little elf greeted him with its large, bright eyes.
[Sorry about that, Host. That physical reaction was caused by the system program loading. My apologies for not warning you beforehand.]
Ji Mu's confused thoughts cleared.
"System?"
He reached out to poke it.
The warm sensation at his fingertip felt completely real, surprising him.
So this time it's actually real?
However...
"I've been here for almost half a year, and you're only activating now?"
[Ah haha, about that...]
The system explained sheepishly.
[Transporting the host to this novel world consumed too much energy, that's why it took so long.]
"Oh?"
Ji Mu's expression remained unchanged, giving no indication whether he believed this explanation or not.
The simple conversation fell into silence after that.
[Um...]
Seeing the atmosphere grow colder, the awkward system sprite scratched its head and had to initiate conversation.
[You know, Host, you're really amazing. Not only surviving alone in this strange world for so long but also studying hard and achieving first place in the six-school joint exam.]
[Remaining calm through honor and disgrace while staying positive - being contracted with such a host is truly this system's lifetime honor ^_^]
The sudden awkward praise made Ji Mu glance at it.
As it said, he indeed wasn't a native of this world, but came from a place called Blue Star.
But what was strange was...
The person he had transmigrated into and possessed not only shared his name,
But even their age, appearance, and experiences were completely identical.
Both grew up in orphanages without parents, and even died the same way - from gaming overnight.
A parallel universe counterpart...
After accessing the original host's memories, he quickly accepted the fact of his transmigration.
After all, both lives were similar, so it didn't matter where he stayed.
"Let's skip the mutual flattery routine."
He had thought this place wasn't much different from Blue Star, and he could just continue living as before.
But now suddenly a system appears...
Ji Mu's gaze shifted, keeping his thoughts hidden.
"Tell me, what do you need me to do?"
[...⊙∀⊙! So direct!]
Surprise appeared on the system's chubby little face.
So proactive!
Skipping all the introductory dialogue, such efficiency made it feel somewhat uncomfortable.
[Okay okay, no problem!]
Pleasantly surprised, the system puffed up its chest and began introducing seriously.
[Host, the world you're currently in is merged from four romance novels, and the task is very simple.]
[Remove the four female protagonists' aversion to men, restore stability to this derivative world, and you'll receive a huge rewa... Hey hey hey, Host, where are you going!]
The young man's sudden movement left it stunned.
Without time to think about why, the system quickly flew in front, spreading its arms to block him.
[What's going on, Host? Was my explanation not detailed enough or what?]
"Not that."
Though Ji Mu occasionally said things like 'wish I had a system,' those were just jokes.
Once actually faced with such a troublesome entity, his only thought was to avoid it.
"I'm simply not interested in doing this task, that's all."
[Huh?]
The system was even more confused.
[Host, weren't we just getting along fine? Why suddenly...]
"Which part of our conversation gave you that impression?"
Ji Mu mercilessly exposed the system's self-delusion.
"Actually, I have a question I'd like to ask you."
His gaze fell on its little face, "How did you know about my first place in the six-school exam?"
Having just been activated today, yet somehow knowing all about his life since transmigration.
All that talk about depleted energy was just a trick.
Hearing the young man's penetrating question, the system sprite's eyes widened, internally screaming 'oh crap!'
Game over! How could I forget about that detail?
[Well, um... Host, I...]
Realizing its own mistake, it racked its brains trying to recover.
Seeing the system's eyes darting around rapidly, Ji Mu knew it was preparing to spin another lie.
Not in the mood to hear its nonsense, he turned to leave directly.
His decisive attitude made the system freeze.
[Host! Don't go, dear Host!!]
Now completely panicked, it frantically flapped its wings to fly forward, blocking the young man again.
[I'll tell you, I'll tell you everything, just please don't leave.]
"Move."
[...]
Looking at the cold young man before it, the system's eyes grew resentful.
Fine fine fine!
Your coldness might be minus eight degrees,
But my thermal underwear is extremely sturdy!
Just being cold, huh? Watch me reason with you and move you with emotion, I'll win you over completely!
After internal grumbling, it revealed everything.
[Host, I wasn't lying to you. As for how I knew about the six-school exam first place, that's because these things happened in a previous life.]
Ji Mu caught the key point.
"Previous life?"
[Yes.]
Seeing its words had caught the young man's interest, the system continued.
[Actually, this novel world we're in is currently in its second loop.]
"You mean..."
Hearing this, Ji Mu's lazy expression finally changed.
"A time loop?"
[Correct.]
The system heaved a long sigh.
[As I mentioned earlier, this dimension is merged from four romance novels, and the whole world should operate according to the plot core.]
[But strangely, perhaps due to bugs from merging too many novels, many characters deviated from their settings, becoming completely opposite to their original personalities.]
Recalling past memories, its tone became somewhat lost.
[And the four female protagonists suffered the worst breakdown.]
[Not only did they fail to end up with their destined partners as per the plot, they even developed an extreme aversion to men.]
[And this breakdown led to an extreme ending.]
[They...]
Flashing back to some unbearable scenes, the system swallowed, its prominent Adam's apple bobbing.
[Killed those male leads with their own hands.]
Ji Mu was surprised, "That violent?"
[What else?]
The system gave him an annoyed look.
This guy, showing no fear at all - doesn't he know I was nearly scared to death?
[What happened next goes without saying. When the plot broke down to such a degree, as a world derived from novels, it couldn't escape destruction.]
Afraid the young man wouldn't believe it, the system reached out and gently tapped his forehead.
Instantly, countless fragmented scenes filled Ji Mu's mind.
Mountains crumbling, tsunamis sweeping across lands.
Magnificent buildings collapsing, thick dust and smoke swirling through the ruins.
That silent despair was slowly devouring the entire world.
Witnessing such apocalyptic scenes, even the usually composed Ji Mu couldn't help but be moved.
"Wow, this feels more realistic than 3D movies."
Bro, that's your takeaway?!
Hearing his casual comment, the system was speechless.
It really shouldn't have expected any different reaction from him.
[I was originally just a passerby system, initially contracting with a host just to play a background role, quietly passing through various plot points in the story.]
Who knew such an accident would happen.
All important characters broke down, and even the world was destroyed.
[If the Time Management Bureau hadn't discovered the anomaly and reversed time back to the starting point, we probably would have perished miserably along with this world.]
Speaking, it pointed upward.
[The reason why I was activated after half a year delay was because I was recalled by the Time Management Bureau for reassignment.]
"Oh?"
Ji Mu stroked his chin, following up with a question.
"So the new mission is to prevent this dimension from reaching its destruction ending?"
[Yes.]
The system nodded.
[After all, this dimension is merged from four novels, which is unprecedented among countless small worlds, so the Time Management Bureau takes it very seriously.]
"How to change it? By correcting these broken plotlines?"
[It's not necessary to go to such trouble]
The system spread its hands.
[Since this novel world is primarily BG romance-oriented, we just need to change the four female leads' aversion to men.]
[It doesn't matter who they end up with.]
In simple terms, the female leads are important, but it doesn't matter who becomes the male lead.
Ji Mu made an "oh" sound, his expression unreadable.
"So when did the apocalypse happen in the previous loop?"
The system's eyes lit up, thinking the young man was finally agreeing to take on the task.
[Ten years later!]
It swayed its body, its volume rising with excitement.
[Host, let me tell you, while we still have plenty of time, we should quickly...]
Before it could finish its excited speech, the young man stretched lazily, "I see, that's enough then."
The system froze.
[Huh? What's enough?]
"Ten years is enough to live, I'm not that demanding."
Having finally gotten the information he wanted, Ji Mu looked completely relaxed.
"Goodbye."
[???]
The system sprite sat with its mouth half-open, its brain completely crashed.
Its emotional turmoil felt like ten thousand mud horses galloping across the plains.
Though it hadn't interacted much with the young man in the previous life, it knew he had a rather laid-back personality.
But damn!
Who knew he could be this extreme in slacking off!!
[No! Don't be like this, dear Host! Please reconsider - ten years isn't enough to live!]
The system flew to the young man's side, nearly in tears.
[The future is so wonderful, ten years is merely the blink of an eye.]
[Life has several decades to live through, can you really be content with just one?]
[Host, please Host...]
Despite using every trick it could think of to persuade him, he continued walking forward, showing no signs of changing his mind.
Finally, it could only helplessly watch his thin figure getting further away.
Exhaustion and despair washed over it as the system slowly lowered its arms, completely deflated.
It's over, truly over now.
Failing to complete the mission objectives meant even if they didn't perish with this world, it would still be reconstructed upon return.
What difference was that from perishing!
[Why, just why...]
The system hung its head, feeling utterly hopeless.
[Completing the mission would earn a hundred million reward and return to Blue Star, isn't that appealing?]
Without the system noticing, Ji Mu, who had one foot through the rooftop door, suddenly stopped.
[I just don't understand, really don't understand.]
As the system muttered quietly, its peripheral vision suddenly caught a dark shadow covering its entire body.
It looked up to find the young man who had been leaving had inexplicably returned, wearing a solemn expression.